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In the United States, you can usually keep an eligible mobile number by asking your new carrier to port it. The number transfer does not guarantee that carrier-hosted voicemail will come with it: T-Mobile, for example, says voicemail resets after a port and advises customers to back up messages first. Keep your old service active until the transfer completes, and preserve important messages before starting.
What happens to your phone number?
When you port a number, the new provider requests its transfer from your current provider and the providers coordinate the change. The FCC says customers switching providers within the same geographic area can generally keep their number. A specific number still needs to be eligible for the new provider’s service, so confirm portability with that carrier before you begin. FCC guidance on keeping your number
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The transfer concerns the number and call routing. It does not, by itself, establish that stored voicemail recordings, greetings, PINs, or transcripts will move to the new service. Those are separate questions to ask each carrier.
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Do not assume that carrier-hosted voicemail will transfer. T-Mobile’s current instructions say to back up voicemail before moving a number and warn that voicemail resets after the port completes. That is direct guidance for T-Mobile, not a universal rule for every carrier, phone, or voicemail platform. T-Mobile’s number-transfer guidance
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- Before starting, listen to important messages and use an export or backup method supported by your current carrier and phone.
- Ask your current carrier what happens to saved messages, custom greetings, and voicemail PIN settings when your number leaves.
- Ask the new carrier how to activate voicemail and visual voicemail after the number arrives.
- Do not rely on a particular app or handset setting to preserve messages unless your carrier and device confirm it works for your voicemail type.
Voicemail may involve carrier-stored messages, visual voicemail, transcripts, or recordings stored on a device. Available guidance does not establish that carriers retain or delete all of these in the same way, so check the specific services you use.
What to do before and during a U.S. carrier switch
- Check number eligibility. Ask the new carrier to confirm it can port your number and provide its current timing estimate.
- Keep the old service active. Do not cancel the current account before the port finishes. T-Mobile explicitly requires the previous account to remain active during its transfer process. T-Mobile transfer instructions
- Gather the exact account details. Have your current carrier’s account number, required transfer PIN or passcode, billing ZIP code or address, and account-holder information. Details that do not match can delay validation. The FCC describes the new provider submitting the request and the current provider validating identifying information. FCC number-portability FAQ
- Back up important voicemail. Complete any backup before submitting the port request, using a method supported by your phone and carrier.
- Start the port with the new carrier and monitor its status. Ask how it will notify you if more information is needed or the request is delayed.
- After completion, set up voicemail on the new service. Check whether any old-account lines or services you did not transfer need separate cancellation.
How long can the transfer take?
Timing depends on the providers and the type of transfer. T-Mobile’s current support page estimates 10 minutes to 3 hours for a wireless-line transfer and 3 to 10 days for a landline transfer; these are T-Mobile estimates, not guarantees for other providers. T-Mobile also says a period of dual service can last up to 24 hours. Ask your new carrier for the estimate and status process that apply to your transfer. T-Mobile transfer timing and process
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An older FCC FAQ gives historical industry guidance of about two and a half hours for a wireless-to-wireless transfer after the request reaches the old carrier, and says a wireline-to-wireless transfer can take several days. It is not a current service guarantee; the FCC FAQ also states that it had not mandated a specific porting timeframe. FCC number-portability FAQ
Could emergency calling be affected?
During a period when old and new services are both involved, a 911 call may connect but the operator may be unable to call back if the call drops. The FCC warns about this mixed-service risk, and T-Mobile gives a similar warning for its transfer process. Ask the new carrier whether emergency calling or callbacks could be affected during your specific port window. FCC portability FAQ T-Mobile transfer guidance
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
Special cases: Google Voice and UK mobile numbers
Porting a Google Voice number
Google Voice has a separate porting process from carrier-hosted voicemail. Google says to unlock the Google Voice number before asking the new carrier to port it, and not to delete the number after the gaining carrier has initiated the port. Its instructions do not establish how every voicemail, call record, or other record is affected in every port scenario. Google Voice number porting help
Switching a UK mobile number
U.S. transfer instructions do not apply to the UK process. Ofcom says UK customers who want to keep a mobile number request a Porting Authorisation Code (PAC) from their current provider and give it to the new provider. Ofcom says a port should normally be ready within one working day after the new provider receives the PAC; the PAC is valid for 30 days. Ofcom: switching mobile provider
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Rank #4
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with Verizon, Spectrum, AT&T, Total Wireless, other CDMA carriers, it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- 4G LTE Bands: B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28/B38/B40/B41
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- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
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